Chill Day 101

Sedated- check. Worn out and exhausted from fighting sleep- check. Finally able to rest for the day and recuperate- check. Emma's doing good today with no real changes. No more blood in her poo (YEA), back on her feedings. No changes to the breathing machine. Started her on vitamin A shots to try to help with those darn lungs, otherwise relaxin'.

Oh Poo!!!

Today was an ok day for Emma. No real changes on the breathing front. She had a poop today with blood in it which is very concerning to the Doc- they put a hold on her feedings for tonight, got an xray of her stomach which looked ok- the big concern is a type of bad bacteria in her gut. So they increased her IV nutrition for the night to make up for the no milk thing. Otherwise she is doing well, nothing new to report. Thanks to all for your prayers, comments and concerns!!! I love to read what everyone says to us and really appreciate the encouraging words!!!

And Today Makes 4

So today we bought our 4th chest tube for baby girl! She was having a rough morning, unable to to keep her oxygen levels where they should be. Finally got a chest xray early this afternoon and she again had a collapsed lung so we have a new chest tube, back to the panting ventilator, back on sedation... Rob and I were there for the procedure and we were able to see the results immediately so it is unfortunately a necessary evil for her to have this chest tube... Please continue to pray for this poor left lung to heal up. Even after all that she was able to open her eyes and say hello to everyone!!!

YEA!!!!!

Today was a good day!!! Emma's morning chest x ray showed the same ugly left lung but the doctor wants to forge ahead and she is doing good!!! They pulled out her last chest tube this am- it wasn't in proper place anyway, so she is now chest tube free!!! They placed her back onto the regular breathing machine instead of the easier on the lungs panting machine and she is loving it!! She cries more now since she is not as sedated and the first time I cried too- I can't do anything for her!!! But this is all good signs!!! She is up to 8cc/ 3 hours on her feedings, doing well. Please continue your prayers for her left lung!!!!

Looking Better...

Emma is looking a little better today. Her morning chest x ray was about the same but this afternoons showed some improvement!!! The doctor says we will see what tomorrow morning shows us. For today they were able to go back on some of the breathing machine settings very slowly. She pulled the breathing tube out again last night because she is soooo active- they put it back in and everything is ok. They placed a line today so they can draw her labs and not have to poke her everytime- yea! Please continue to pray for her morning xray and her left lung to heal and be clear of all air pockets!!!! She weighs 1lb 11oz today- feeds up to 7cc every 3 hours, tolerating well.

PLEASE PRAY

Well we got some news today that Emma's left lung is still not really doing well. It seemed she had responded nicely to the steroids they were giving her but now it looks like it is no longer working. The lung has not re-collapsed, a huge praise!!, but it does appear to have some air filled pockets all over. This is not a good thing because if these pockets are already filled wtih air then this means no gas exchange- no oxygen going in and no carbon dioxide coming out. Dr Ortiz spoke with me about it today and said they are going to try a stronger steroid- kind of a last ditch effort for the lung. I asked what is next if this doesn't work- he said to get on our knees and pray- which I know many of you are already doing- as am I. He said we can stay intubated and on the breathing machine and see how she does... please pray for a miracle that when they see her chest xray in the am these air filled pockets will be gone!!!!!!
7"Ask and it will be given to you,
Seek and you will find,
Knock and the door will be open to you.
8For everyone who asks receives,
He who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
9Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake?
11IF YOU, then, though you are evil, know how to give GOOD GIFTS to your children,
HOW MUCH MORE will your FATHER in heaven give good gifts to those who ask HIM!"
Matt. 7:7-11
Many of you don't know this, but this passage was the passage for me when I was asking GOD for a child. And now it is my passage for my child. Please keep Emma in your prayers.

And the Good News Keeps Comming!!!

Yet another good day for Emma Nichole!!! Even with the diuretic they gave her yesterday, her weight stayed at 1lb 10oz!! They clamped off one of the chest tubes- the smaller one, and she did so well they removed it earlier this morning and has been doing great all day without it. Only one more to go and the nurse says maybe it will come out tomorrow... please pray...
She got some more blood today but the good news is the dopamine which is to keep her blood pressure where it needs to be is now off and has been since 0100 last night! Yea!!! This afternoon they had an issue with her 02 levels being very low but after another chest xray it wasn't her left lung giving her problems but the breathing tube had become dislodged. They pulled it out and replaced in the right spot and she is doing great. They continue to increase her feedings- she is up to 6cc every 3 hours and tolerating wonderfully.
As a side note- for the last 3 days when we show up her o2 sats are a bit on the low side. All Rob has to do is go get a cup of coffee and she perks back up!!! Every time... What am I gonna do when he goes back to work? LOL Please keep our daughter in your prayers- HE IS LISTENING!!!